Condensing system



J. KlRGAN CONDENSING SYSTEM Filed July 11, 1930 [Y /Ill/I/Illlll/ Dec. 8, 1931.

INVENTOR. 1/ Kinja.

H125' A TTORNEY Patented Dec. `8, 1931 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE J' OHN KIBGAN, 0F EASTON PENN SYLVAIN LA, ASSIGNOR T0 INGEBSOLL-RAND 00M- PANY, l' JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION Ol' NEW JERSEY CONDEN SING SYSTEM Application med July 11,

This invention relates to condensers and' has particular reference to a condensing system using a cooling medium other than water and to the method of employing said medium.

One object of the invention is to utilize a stream of air to condense the steam entering the condenser.

Another object of the invention is to usefully employ the air after passing through the condenser.

The single gure of the drawin is a diagrammatic view showing the pre erred embodiment of the invention with the improved condenser, devaporizer and trap in section.

It has been found that in places where water is not readily available or where the storage capacity is limited, such as in locomotive and the like, that this Water is primarily needed for making steam and it is unduly wasteful to use water for other purposes. One of the purposes for which I have found the use of water unnecessary is in the condenser where I have devised means to utilize air, in place of water,I as a cooling medium.y In utilizing air as a cooling medium I have also provided means whereby the air, after passing through the condenser, maybe used to create a forced draft at the fire box of locomotives and the like.

Referring now more particularly to the drawingwherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts, l denotes a common type of surface condenser having an inlet for steam at 2 and an outlet 3 for the condensate to which may be connected a pump 4. As is usual in these installations, an outlet 5- of the pump may return the condensate to any suitable point such as the boiler feed. Extendin longitudinally through the condenser is a p urality of tubes 6 having their ends sealed in the tube sheets 7 at either end of the condenser in the usual manner.

In place of the usual water box at either end of the condenser there is provided an inlet'air head 8 for air which ma pass through the tubes 6 to an outlet air hea 9 at the other end of the condenser. The air to be utilized as a cooling medium ma be forced into the inlet head and through t e tubes by a blower 1930. Serial No. 487,181.

10 secured to the inlet head` 8, which blower' may be driven by a suitable prime mover (not shown). Secured to the outlet head 9 is a pipe 11 leading to the inlet side 12 of a devaporizer 13.

Within the devaporizer 13 is a series of tubes 14 separated by a bale 15 and having their ends sealed in the tube sheets 16. At the other end of the devaporizer 13 is an outlet 17 into which the air, after passing through the tubes 14, may enter and be led to the fire box or other desired point by the pipe 18 leading from the outlet 17. Closure means for the outer ends of the inlet l2 and outlet 17 of the devaporizer are provided by the plates 19 attached thereto.

As is usual in surface condensers', an outlet 20 having a pipe 21 attached thereto is providedto withdraw the air and rincon densable vapors from the condenser. The pipe 21 leads to the devaporizer where it may be attached to a. suitable type of steam )et vacuum pump 22.

The function of the devaporizer is to con- '.dense steam from the jet 22 and reduce the volume of air and uncondensable gases from the main condenser l. A certain amount of condensate will therefore be formed within the-devaporizer 13 and this condensate may be returned to the main condenser 1 to join the condensate formed therein. To this end a pipe 23 is arranged between the devaporizer and the condenser to afford communication between these elements. Interposed in the pipe 23 is a trap 24 which may be of the vusual type having a ball float 25 pivotally `mounted in the trap to actuate a valve 27 for controlling the flow of condensate through the trap 24. l

During the operation of the device the blower 10 will produce a stream of air at the inlet 8 of the main condenser 1 and this stream o f air will passy along the tubes 6 to condense the exhaust steam entering the inlet 2. The air will then flow from the outlet 9 and ass along the pipe 11 to the inlet 12 of the devaporizer. The air, still under the pressure created by the blower 10, will perform the same function in the devaporizer that it previously performed within the main condenser and having passed along the tubes 14 and entered the outlet 17 it is emy loyed still further in a useful manner. This atter feature is not possible when water is y I can utilize these quantities of air to create l5.

the forced draft. In the main condenser 1 the entering steam will be condensed bythe air in the tubes 6 andthe condensate will be drawn through the outlet 3 by the pump 4 whereby it may be returned tothe boiler. p

The air and uncondensablegases will be Withdrawn from the condenser through the pipe 21 by the steam jet vacuum pump 22,

and will be injected into the devaporizer tov gether with the steam=issuing from the steam jet 22. Upon entering the devaporizer 13 the steam from the jet will .circulate around the tubes 14 and the baffles 15 to be condensed upon the tubes and flow as condensate connected to the inlet head to force a stream of cooling air through the tubes to condense the steam, means connected to the outlet head to conduct the cooling air from the condenser, a devaporizer connected to said means to r e ceive the cooling air, a plurality of tubes 1n said devaporizer through which the cooling air from the condenser ma pass, steam jet evaeuating means on sai devaporizer to withdraw air and uncondensable gases from the condenser to circulate around the tubes in the devaporizer whereby said air and uncondensable gases will be reduced in volume by the cooling air in the tubes and the steam from the jet will be condensed,a discharge pipe to convey condensate from the devaporizer to the condenser, a trap interposed in the discharge pipe to control the flow of condensate therethrough, and a pump connected to the condenser outlet to remove condensate flowing therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

JOHN KIRGAN.

through the outlet pipe 23. The air and unl condensable gas-es will be greatly reduced in volume by the devaporizer and may be withdrawn from the devaporizer through an outlet 29 by any suitable evacuating apparatus. Condensate from the devaporizer passing along the pipe 23 will enter the trap 24 and when a suliicient quantity has entered 'the trap, the float 25 will be raised thereby, thus I lifting the valve 27 from its seat and permitting the condensate to flow to the main condenser and be withdrawn by the pump'4. 7

From the foregoing it will be seen that the use of water for condensing exhaust steam has been entirelyeliminated, thereby rendlerv ing all the water available for use in producing steam. It'will also be seen that by using air, instead of water, as a cooling medium, the air may also be used as a means of creating a forced draft at the lire box. Simple an economical means have been elnployed for carrying out these objects and it will be apparent that the means em loyed do not in any way add to the cost o the condenser but, on the contrary, reduce the cost of operation of this member, particularly in locomotives and the like where the limited quantity of water carried may be more usefully employed in making steam.

I claim:

A condensing system, comprisin a condenser having an inlet for steam an an outlet Afor condensate, a plurality of. tubes in' said condenser around which the steam may circulate, an inlethead at one end of the condenser and an outlet at the other, a blower 

